Jack La Rue

Jack La Rue (born Gaspare Biondolillo;

Early life and family

Gaspare Biondolillo was the son of Sicilian immigrants Luigi Biondolillo (1874–1951) and Giuseppa lo Bue (1879–1970). Gaspare or "Jasper" was the oldest of six children. He was born in Lercara Friddi, Sicily.

A miner from the town of Lercara Friddi, Luigi married Giuseppa on May 20, 1899. Not long thereafter, Luigi emigrated from Sicily to the port of New York, accompanied by his sister Francesca. Arriving on August 26, 1900, the two siblings joined their brother Pasquale in the "Little Italy" section of Manhattan. Giuseppa emigrated later, arriving in New York on November 26, 1902. She brought along her five-month-old son Gaspare. They joined Luigi in Manhattan.

In the 1930 U.S. Census, Jasper is listed as still living with his parents. However, not long after, he moved to Hollywood to begin his film career.

Luigi had a brother called Gioacchino "Jack" Biondolillo. Gaspare adopted this as his given name for the stage. His surname "La Rue" was derived from his mother's maiden name of LoBue, sometimes written as "Lo Bue".

Jack's sister Emily (born May 16, 1917) relocated to Hollywood while still a teenager to follow in her big brother's footsteps, using the screen name "Emily LaRue". Her screen debut came in College Rhythm (1934) and she went on to appear in films like Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935), It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did (1936), Zaza (1939), and A New Kind of Love (1963).

Jack's nephew Ronald Cognata also followed in his footsteps, taking the stage name "Jack La Rue, Jr." He married actress Kim Darby on October 8, 1978 (they divorced on June 30, 1981). Jack La Rue, Jr. is known for his roles in Crypt of the Living Dead (1973) and The Young Nurses (1973).

Stage La Rue went from high school to his first acting job in Otis Skinner's road company production of Blood and Sand. He performed in Broadway plays from around 1923 to 1931. According to La Rue, while appearing in Mae West's play Diamond Lil, he was spotted by Howard Hawks, who offered him a part in the film Scarface (1932), starring Paul Muni.

Film Jack moved to Hollywood sometime after 1930, where he appeared in numerous films. However, Scarface was not one of them. La Rue stated in a newspaper article that, after four days, Hawks replaced him with George Raft because La Rue was taller than Muni and had a more powerful voice. She obtained a divorce on December 17, 1946, charging him with mental cruelty. He married Anne Giordano on August 12, 1962; she obtained an annulment in 1967.

La Rue died of a heart attack at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

Complete filmography

The Lucky Devil (1925) as Prizefight Attendant (uncredited) The King on Main Street (1925) as Member of King's Retinue in Paris Hotel Lobby (uncredited) Fine Manners (1926) as New Year's Eve Celebrant (uncredited) East Side, West Side (1927) as Dining Extra (uncredited) The House of Terror (1928) a 10-chapter serial, today considered lost Follow the Leader (1930) as A Gangster Night World (1932) as Henchman (uncredited) The Mouthpiece (1932) as Joe Garland (uncredited) While Paris Sleeps (1932) as Julot Radio Patrol (1932) as Slick (uncredited) Blessed Event (1932) as Louis De Marco (uncredited) The All American (1932) as Joe Fiore Virtue (1932) as Toots Three on a Match (1932) as Ace's Henchman (uncredited) I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) as Ackerman (uncredited) Man Against Woman (1932) as Alberti A Farewell to Arms (1932) as The Priest Lawyer Man (1932) as Spike Murphy (uncredited) The Woman Accused (1933) as Little Maxie 42nd Street (1933) as Mug with Murphy (uncredited) Christopher Strong (1933) as Carlo Terror Aboard (1933) as Gregory Cordoff The Story of Temple Drake (1933) as Trigger The Girl in 419 (1933) as Sammy Gambling Ship (1933) as Pete Manning Headline Shooter (1933) as Ricci To the Last Man (1933) as Jim Daggs The Kennel Murder Case (1933) as Eduardo Grassi Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen (1934) as Bert Good Dame (1934) as Bluch Brown The Fighting Rookie (1934) as Patrolman Jim Trent Straight Is the Way (1934) as Monk Take the Stand (1934) as George Gaylord No Ransom (1934) as Larry Romero Secret of the Chateau (1934) as Lucien Vonaire Calling All Cars (1935) as Jerry Kennedy Times Square Lady (1935) as Jack Kramer Men of the Hour (1935) as Nick Thomas The Headline Woman (1935) as Phil Zarias Under the Pampas Moon (1935) as Bazan The Daring Young Man (1935) as Cubby After the Dance (1935) as Mitch Little Big Shot (1935) as Doré Special Agent (1935) as Jake Andrews His Night Out (1935) as Joe Ferranza Waterfront Lady (1935) as Tom Braden The Spanish Cape Mystery (1935) as Gardner Hot Off the Press (1935) as Bill Jeffrey Remember Last Night? (1935) as Baptiste Strike Me Pink (1936) as Mr. Thrust The Bridge of Sighs (1936) as Packy Lacy In Paris, A.W.O.L. (1936) as Soldier Dancing Pirate (1936) as Lt. Chago (Baltazar's Aide) It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did (1936) as Smiley Clark Born to Fight (1936) as Smoothy Morgan A Tenderfoot Goes West (1936) as James Killer Madden Ellis Island (1936) as Dude Yellow Cargo (1936) as Al Perrelli Go West, Young Man (1936) as Rico in 'Drifting Lady' Mind Your Own Business (1936) as Cruger Her Husband Lies (1937) as 'Trigger, ' Gunman That I May Live (1937) as Charlie Captains Courageous (1937) as Priest Dangerous Holiday (1937) as Gollenger Trapped by G-Men (1937) as Fred Drake Arson Gang Busters (1938) as Bud Morgan Under the Big Top (1938) as Ricardo Le Grande Valley of the Giants (1938) as Ed Morrell I Demand Payment (1938) as Smiles Badolio Murder in Soho (1939) as Steve Marco The Gang's All Here (1939) as Alberni Big Town Czar (1939) as Mike Luger In Old Caliente (1939) as Sujarno Charlie Chan in Panama (1940) as Manolo Forgotten Girls (1940) as Eddie Nolan Enemy Agent (1940) as Alex The Sea Hawk (1940) as Lt. Ortega Fugitive from a Prison Camp (1940) as Red Nelson East of the River (1940) as Frank 'Frisco' Scarfi Footsteps in the Dark (1941) as Ace Vernon Paper Bullets (1941) as Mickey Roman Ringside Maisie (1941) as Ricky Du Prez Gentleman from Dixie (1941) as Thad Terrill Hard Guy (1941) as Vic Monroe Swamp Woman (1941) as Pete Oliver / Pierre Pertinax Pontineau Briand Broussicourt d'Olivier A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) as Tommy Gould Pardon My Sarong (1942) as Tabor (uncredited) Highways by Night (1942) as Johnny Lieber, Gangster X Marks the Spot (1942) as Marty Clark The Payoff (1942) as John Angus American Empire (1942) as Pierre- Beauchard Henchman You Can't Beat the Law (1943) as Cain A Gentle Gangster (1943) as Hugo Secret Service in Darkest Africa (1943 serial) as Hassan (Ch. 6) (uncredited) The Law Rides Again (1943) as Duke Dillon The Girl from Monterrey (1943) as Al Johnson A Scream in the Dark (1943) as Det. Lt. Cross Never a Dull Moment (1943) as Joey Pistol Packin' Mama (1943) as Johnny Rossi The Sultan's Daughter (1943) as Rata The Desert Song (1943) as Lieutenant Bertin Smart Guy (1943) as Matt Taylor Follow the Leader (1944) as Larry Machine Gun Mama (1944) as Jose Leave It to the Irish (1944) as Rockwell The Last Ride (1944) as Joe Genna Dangerous Passage (1944) as Mike Zomano Steppin' in Society (1945) as Bow Tie The Spanish Main (1945) as Lt. Escobar Dakota (1945) as Suade Cornered (1945) as Diego, Hotel Valet Road to Utopia (1945) as LeBec Murder in the Music Hall (1946) as Bruce Wilton In Old Sacramento (1946) as Laramie Santa Fe Uprising (1946) as Bruce Jackson My Favorite Brunette (1947) as Tony Bush Pilot (1947) as Paul Girard Robin Hood of Monterey (1947) as Don Ricardo Gonzales No Orchids for Miss Blandish (1948) as Slim Grisson For Heaven's Sake (1950) as Tony Clark Ride the Man Down (1952) as Kennedy Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) as Father Paul (uncredited) 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) as Nick the Greek (uncredited) Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) as Tomatoes For Those Who Think Young (1964) as Cronin's Business Associate The Spy in the Green Hat (1967) as Federico "Feet" Stilletto Paesano: A Voice in the Night (1975) as Bartender Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976) as Silent Film Villain